WE just got one of the greatest wedding gifts ever!!!

[happylalagirl]

So my DF and I were thinking we might have to just stay at Disney World for our honeymoon due to our funds. Not that that's a bad thing, it's just that we've been there so many times... anyway, one of my bridesmaids had to bow out of the wedding and I asked my sister-in-law to be in the wedding instead. She said yes!! Anyway, she came down to NJ (she lives in upstate NY) and was fitted for her dress. She called me the next day (7 times before I was able to call her back) and said she had been thinking on her ride home and she spoke with my brother... (at this point I was thinking she was going to back out of the wedding also) and that they wanted to give us a wedding present. She and my brother are giving us their time share in Aruba for our honeymoon for 7 days. I'm sorry. What did you say??!!! yes, you heard correctly!! OHMIGOODNESS!!!!
Are you kidding me????? Actually, she gave us a choice between St. Marteen, Aruba or Freeport, Bahama. After doing the research we decided on Aruba. We are sooooooooooooooo excited!!!! So, now all we have to do is buy the airfare... (and hopefully make back the money at the wedding for the $1400 in airfare) and excursions.

We can't wait!!!

So, if anyone has been to Aruba and has any recommendations, please let me know... neither of us has ever been to the Carribean. We are so looking forward to this!!! We are going to do an island excursion to Curacao one day.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you guys!!! Thanks for listening!!

 

[hfehr1s]

Wow -- how exciting, and what an amazing wedding present!!! Congrats, I'm sure you will have a blast!!!

 

[JonetteA]

What a GREAT wedding present!!

 

[allisonswonderland]

I have been to Aruba but it has been 10 years or so- I think I was in high school. I remember the shopping was fun. The cabs were all mercedes and very clean, they drivers spoke some unusual dialect that was part spanish and something else- I could pick up a few words every now and then. They went on and on about their Agrentian beef, which we were not impressed with. The best meals we had were at the hotel. It was pretty, we stayed at a Hyatt Regency and there was a casino, I was not old enough to gamble (I do not think). I also remember seeing a lot of iguanas- Have fun, but be careful!!!

 

[Kim10110]

Congrats what an awesome gift. have fun and enjoy it

 

[JJClemson]

Congrats! What a wonderful surprise I stopped at Aruba for one day 5 years ago during a Caribbean cruise. It was beautiful! We went parasailing, did some shopping, then just relaxed on the beach. I am from NJ too, and I personally think we have the best beaches, but the water in Aruba makes it a close second! I am so jealous! I know you will have a wonderful time

 

[Rustyflwr3]

Congrats! Awesome gift!

 

[heathrow42]

A friend of mine went to Aruba last month.. this info is from him.

Hooiberg is a volcanic formation -

Arikok National Park

Aruba's Aloe Factory

Natural Bridge (now collapsed)

Quadriki Caves

Ruins of Gold Mines

Butterfly Farm

Restaurants

and then there is this:

" In Aruba the newspapers almost never publish a weather report. They don’t need to. Around here, “sunny and warm” is not news. With an average rainfall of less than 20 inches a year, an average daytime temperature of 82° Fahrenheit (27° Celsius), a location completely outside the hurricane belt, and the constant cooling influence of the trade winds, Aruba is one of the most temperate islands in the Caribbean. And just as comfortable in July as it is in January.

The difference between median day and night temperatures, and between summer and winter temperatures, is just 3.6°. The rainfall occurs mainly in short showers during November and December.

Aruba’s weather in a word — perfect."

Hope that helps!

--heather

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

CONGRATS!! You will have such a great time. Aruba sounds beautiful.

 

[Jax]

That is such a wonderful gift.

I have never been to Aruba but my future in-laws have been a couple of times.

They have a favorite restaurant called the Flying Fishbone. You eat right on the beach with your feet in the sand, very romantic.

www.flyingfishbone.com

Happy Planning!

 

[Glorydaz]

first off, congrats!! and that really is a wonderful gift! my sister and I went to Aruba last year so I'll give you some tidbits....use the web and input Aruba Restaurants... we booked all our meals about 3 weeks before going which made our dining experience fabulous... the following are fantastic restaurants # El Gaucho's for awesome steak! #2 Valentino's for the best service we have ever had ( and truly romantic) #3 Ventanes del Mar and last but definitely not least #4 Que Pasa for the best tomato soup on the planet!!

for lots of helpful hints go to tripadvisor.com, input Aruba and browse to your hearts content!! also, you should rent a car for 1-3 days ...it's not expensive, easy to drive around ( you'll get used to opposite lane- I only messed up once) and the cabs do get expensive after a bit....the island is small - I live in Staten Island, NY and it's about the same size.....

shopping downtown is fantastic!!! hope some of this has been helpful...with the car, we were able to get to places normally not able....just watch for the wild goats out by the lighthouse!

once again...congrats and the happiest of futures to you and yours


Michelle

 

[happylalagirl]

Thank you all for the wonderful information!!!

Jax - I checked out that website!! What fun that must be!!! That will be a definite on our dining list. Thank you!!!!

Glorydaz - thank you for that fabulous information... I was wondering about the car rental thing... It's so hard to gauge sometimes, how far away everything is... my DF will get a kick out of driving on the "wrong" side of the road for a while... heck, being a stuntman, you'd think he'd be excited by it.!!

Thank you all for the wonderful advice!!! I plan on checking out these websites!! Please keep the information coming... especially your favorite places... word of mouth is always better than a tourism industry specialist telling me what's best.

 

[princessblueeyzes]

Wow how exciting! I am so glad for you guys you deserve it. Have fun!!!

 

[Tinkerbellz]

What a fantastic gift. Can I borrow them for my VR isn 2008! Enjoy your Arubamoon and your DFTW!